1. Be awed by the Burj Khalifa Currently the tallest building in the world at a whopping 828 metres, the Burj Khalifa offers breathtaking views over Dubai. You can get good views of the Burj itself from the lower ground level of Dubai Mall. Opt to take a tour with a brief history of Dubai and the making of the Burj before you take the elevator to At The Top, the observation deck on level 124 of the Burj Khalifa. There’s an even higher – and pricier – option from the At The Top Sky deck.

2. Take a Big Bus tourWant to check out all of Dubai’s major landmarks, and not get stressed doing it? The Dubai Big Bus tour is for you. The red hop-on, hop-off bus city tour takes you to Atlantis the Palm, the Palm Island Drive, the Grand Mosque, the Creekside Park, the Bastakia Quarter, the Dubai Creek, the Khan Murjan Souk Walk, Jumeirah Beach Park, Jumeirah Public Beach, Palm Jumeirah, The Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab, Diving Village, Jumeirah Mosque, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House/Shindagha Museum, Madinat Journey Walk. Ask about the free extras, including entry to seven museums, a night tour, and a complimentary dhow cruise. There are also other tours, like the marina one on a blue bus, on offer.

3. Visit Dubai MuseumLocated in Al Fahidi Fort, one of Dubai’s oldest surviving buildings, visiting the Dubai Museum is an easy way to discover Dubai’s evolution from Bedouin village to its big-city avatar. Don’t miss the archaeology section and the traditional dwellings, including a barasti, a mud-and-palm-frond hut.

4. Go back in time at the Al Bastakia QuarterClose to Dubai Museum, the Al Bastakia Quarter a great place to get an understanding of traditional Arabian architecture and culture, taking you time travelling back to a time when Dubai was more sprawling courtyards and winding lanes than high rises and modernity. It is best visited by evening, when it is lit up by lanterns, and looks especially charming.

5. Drift down Dubai CreekAlso by evening, take a dhow cruise on the waters of Dubai Creek. Everything about the city looks particularly beautifully as night falls over the contrasting silhouettes on the skyline.

6. Marvel at flamingos at the Ras Al Khor Wildlife SanctuaryAlthough this urban wildlife park is best known for its flocks of flamingos, you will also be able to view over 270 avian species. Make your way to the three observation huts and remember to take binoculars along.

7. Laze about on Jumeirah BeachThere are two draws here – the white-sand beach popular for sunbathing and sand-castle building, and the Jumeirah Beach Park with watersports facilities, children’s play area and picnic area.

8. Go shopping the traditional wayGet an insight into time gone by as you navigate through the souqs (marketplaces, usually open-air) of Bur Dubai and Deira. In Deira, buy some saffron at the Spice Souq, Arabian scents at the Perfume Market, and gold at the Gold Souq. Bur Dubai has the Textile Souq with its colourful fabrics.

9. Drop some money at Dubai MallMake your way to the world’s largest shopping centre; you’ll find over 1,200 stores and 160 food outlets vying for your attention across 5,48,000 square metres. There’s also an Olympic-sized ice-skating rink and the Dubai Aquarium with 33,000 marine creatures watching you as you shop.

10. Find the old and the new at the Madinat JumeirahVisit this shopping destination-cum-entertainment village to find a halfway point between the modern and the traditional in Dubai. A tasteful interpretation of a traditional village, it has waterways, villas with wind towers, and a souq, at which you will find quality crafts, art and souvenirs.